Category Archives: Fashion

Sep19

Fall Haul: Ruby Moon Cardigan Edition

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Fall Haul: Ruby Moon Cardigan Edition

Hi! This past weekend I had a trip to my favorite place in the world (TJMaxx) with my favorite guy in the world (Johnny) and it was the best!! This was my first TJMaxx trip with my husband and it was a great success for me and him too. I walked away with lots of new fall and business casual clothes and Johnny got three new Halloween themed button downs. They are awesome! Let’s get started with my Fall Haul by checking out this cheetah print cardigan by Ruby Moon:

For my new job, I work at an actual center and wanted to branch out with more business casual clothes that are still a lot of fun. Both Johnny and I love animal print and when I saw this cardi, I knew right away that it was going to be a keeper. Printed cardigans are a great way to spice up your work wardrobe and I think that I will be living in this one because I am always freezing at the center!

Despite its length, this Ruby Moon cardigan still has a really flattering fit as it is tighter in the arms and torso. As someone who is barely over five foot one, this is important because it is not chunky enough to be overwhelming and offers some shape to it. I can picture myself wearing it for work or play and I like that because I want my clothing to be worn everywhere and not just on the job.

Dressing for fall is all about layering and cardigans or flannels are the best way to accomplish that. Fall outfits are my absolute favorite and I can’t wait to wear this cardi with my new skinny jeans, a basic cami top, and heeled ankle booties! 😀

How do you upgrade your wardrobe during the season change? How do you dress for work? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Sep10

Jean Queen

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Jean Queen

Hi! This past weekend, Johnny and I had a super cute day date to the mall because I needed new jeans in a bad way. While I am partial to clothes shopping at TJMaxx, the jeans and shorts from American Eagle are simply the best so heading to Summit Mall was the move.

I love AEO for their pants selection because they tend to always have a regular rise option, which is ideal for me because I am not a fan of high waisted anything. Naturally, this time they didn’t have one regular rise pair of jeans so I had to step out of my comfort zone with a “super high rise” skinny:

Now, you might find yourselves asking why I went with a super high rise pair if I hate high waisted so much and, honestly, I didn’t even plan on trying these on. I’m glad I gave them a shot, though, because they weren’t that bad. The rise on AEO’s super high rise hit about an inch below my belly button and I can live with that. Anything higher would have been a definite no go because it is not the most flattering style on me.

Mine and Johnny’s motto is that you can never have enough black skinny jeans and that is literally all we wear! I went with a nondistressed pair, which will be great for work. But, I am most excited for the distressed pair I purchased with rips all the way up to the mid thigh. Shockingly enough, I can’t say that I have ever owned a distressed pair of jeans before because I have never found an option that I liked enough. I have a feeling that I will be wearing them all of the time… In fact, I have them on right now! 😀

Super high or regular rise, American Eagle is the most when it comes to jeans. They also had some fabulous fall clothes for all of you back to school shoppers out there!

What is your preferred jean rise? Which store has the best jean selection? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug12

1,000 Post Countdown Giveaway

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1,000 Post Countdown Giveaway

Hello!! I am thirty-six days away from a 1,000 day streak of writing on lifewithlilred and I cannot begin to tell all of you how excited I am! There will be a giveaway once I have achieved my 1,000 streak status but I thought I would offer a bonus one too. This giveaway will be limited to the United States, however, the grand finale giveaway will be world wide.

If you all recall, I had an extremely unfortunate online shopping experience with Wildly Untamed Boutique when it came to ordering shoes for my wedding. Because of their ridiculous return policy, I was not able to return a pair of heels that I ordered which didn’t fit to a United States location. I would have spent hundreds returning them to China, which was more than I originally spent to begin with.

The heels that didn’t fit have been sitting untouched in my apartment since they arrived in May and while I could try selling them, I would prefer for them to go to a fellow fashionista, instead. So, if you are a shoe lover and are a size six and a half, then I have got a giveaway for you! Check it out:

6DFEBD2B-1A91-4842-ABF1-FE8F7F66488EFA2DA815-F067-455C-8B28-8BED0BDE05FBDF181D06-E340-46B5-8F55-E488BB922E84FEBDF187-75F4-4C50-B814-7A580F0B8E37

Giveaway Rules:

  1. Follow lifewithlilred
  2. Like this post
  3. Share this post to your blog
  4. Bonus entry if you share this to your social media
  5. Leave me a comment letting me know you completed the first three or all four tasks! And, as mentioned before, you must be a United States resident.

Despite the not so great experience I had with purchasing my wedding shoes off of Wildly Untamed Boutique, there is no denying that these heels are gorgeous. This giveaway will close out after one week so get those entries in ASAP. Best of luck! ❤

What is your favorite store to shop for shoes at? What does your favorite pair of shoes look like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Jul25

Flower Power OOTD

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Flower Power OOTD

Hello! One of my favorite hang outs in July was when mine and Johnny’s friend, Shannon, stayed with us for a weekend. Shannon is an excellent photographer and made the trip from Marietta to photograph Johnny’s band, The Outside Voices, when they played at Musica in Akron. He was also kind enough to snap some shots of yours truly after the show was over! Take a look at some exclusive pics from my Flower Power OOTD:

Who? What? Wear?

My Flower Power OOTD was one that I felt insanely confident in and it feels so good to get all done up and go out with my husband after a long year and change indoors. When Johnny plays shows inside or out in the summertime, it is usually really hot so I like to sport something that is both cool and comfortable while still being cute, of course! This look featured all of the three Cs to the T and I had myself a little superstar moment being photographed at the concert venue.

What I love about this OOTD is its testament to my Summer Wardrobe Refresh. I stand firm in saying that you only need a few new pieces with each season change to keep your wardrobe looking and feeling new. My Flower Power outfit is a perfect example of this because while the skirt is brand new, the top and shoes are both at least six or more years old! Just one new piece in this OOTD had two over half a decade old items feeling like I was wearing them for the first time because they were styled in such a different way.

Another thing that I really enjoy about the Flower Power look is the monochrome palette. No abrupt pops of color in the black and white clothing meant for a long, lean silhouette and I felt ten feet tall rather than five foot one! While no one appreciates a good pop of color more than Lil Red, a minimal color palette like the one seen above can be just as effective.

Something I always mention in OOTD posts is styling a look that makes the eyes dance. This can be achieved by playing with color and accessories. In the Flower Power outfit’s case, however, it came from showing some skin in just the right places. From the peep toe heels to the peek a boo top, this look had enough going on so that one main area wasn’t the focal point of the entire outfit. I like to think people’s eyes were doing the Tango when I stepped out in my Flower Power OOTD!

What is the oldest item you have in your wardrobe? How do you refresh your wardrobe with the season changes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul14

A Walk In The Park OOTD

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A Walk In The Park OOTD

Hi! I had an amazing afternoon this past Friday visiting the Kingwood Center Gardens in Mansfield, Ohio with my family. I went with my parents, brother, and other brother and his family and, despite the rain, we had a blast exploring the beautiful botanical gardens together. Today, we are going to take a look at a summery little OOTD that wasn’t the most appropriate for the rainy day but what can ya do? Lol! Be sure to tune back in tomorrow for pictures of the Kingwood Center Gardens property – you will be blown away. Now, let’s get to it:

Who? What? Wear?

Prior to my shopping trip at Summit Mall with my friend, Danielle, I had seen Facebook ads for a website called Cider that featured adorable knit tops. I was really hoping to find something similar during my outing and Dry Goods delivered with the Thread & Supply knit tank. This top just screams “fun in the sun” to me and I thought that it would be the perfect option for a stroll in the botanical gardens.

As always, I think the shorts from American Eagle are just the tops and I love their mid rise fit. I liked how the Thread & Supply tank covered up the extra length on the waist of these shorts as it provided for a long, lean silhouette. To further exaggerate the illusion of length (I am only 5’1!), I opted for my slide on wedges from TJMaxx. Ankle strapless shoes allowed for the straight line to continue all the way down to my feet without an abrupt break in it.

As you all know, summer is my least favorite season to dress for because I prefer the variety in the clothing for cooler weather. My Walk In The Park OOTD was quite simple, which is something I normally shy away from. But, I have to say, I felt like a million bucks in this look. My knit tank from Dry Goods is, easily, one of my favorite summer tops and it made me feel like the sun was shining, despite the rainy day.

It wasn’t supposed to rain when we went to the Kingwood Center Gardens but I guess Mother Nature needed a good cry. Had I known that there was going to be inclement weather, a hoodie would have been the move, for sure. I really enjoyed being able to work this outfit, though, and my mood all day was as bright as a summer day to have such wonderful quality time with my family! ❤

What is your favorite season to dress for? What is one of your summer wardrobe staples? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul5

Celebrity Pink Shorts

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Celebrity Pink Shorts

Hi! Today, we are going to be wrapping up my clothing haul from TJMaxx by discussing some shorts by Celebrity Pink. Then, tomorrow, it is onto all things skin care, makeup, and a whole lot of Face Mask Festivities so keep checking back in for more of the latest and greatest. 😀

When my mom and I had our TJMaxx trip, I was really hoping to find a new laundry hamper as well as another pair of shorts. My old hamper has been falling apart from the bottom and I only have two shorts from American Eagle that I had just been alternating every day lol. Needless to say, I definitely needed another pair! I asked the TJMaxx gods and I received with a woven wood hamper and a pair of Celebrity Pink shorts. (#blessed) Now, let’s get to it:

During my shopping, I found the TJMaxx shorts selection to be lackluster at best and struggled to find anything in my size and a mid rise. For those of you who don’t know, high waisted shorts just aren’t my thing and it is so difficult to find a regular pair of mid rise anything in a sea of high waisted. When I had all but given up, I found my Celebrity Pink shorts tucked away on the rolling rack and hoped for success because it was the only pair that I thought might work.

I was so relieved once I tried these shorts on and they fit like a glove, especially because of the junior’s sizing. My Celebrity Pink shorts hit slightly above my natural waist and were short without feeling overly revealing and I couldn’t have asked for anything better. I was also a huge fan of the medium wash of the shorts too since my only two other pairs are black and dark wash. Variety is the spice of life, as they say. 😀

I love everything about my new shorts but the coolest part is that they are made out of recycled fibers from plastic water bottles! I didn’t even notice this on the tag until I was taking blog pics at home and thought that was the neatest thing. Celebrity Pink delivered on the “Honey” style shorts and they are eco-friendly, to boot. GREAT SUCCESS!

What are some other eco-friendly brands? What is your preferred rise for shorts and pants? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul4

Luna Moon Peasant Blouse

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Luna Moon Peasant Blouse

Hello! Today we are going to discuss a mustard yellow peasant blouse by Luna Moon found during my TJMaxx Haul with my mom. I have never been a huge fan of peasant blouses. However, when I saw this top in one of my favorite colors along with a brightly embroidered pattern, I just had to give it a shot. This Luna Moon number will be ideal during the fall and cooler summer evenings and I can’t wait to rock it! Let’s get to it:

Nine times out of ten, I have found that peasant blouses legit look like maternity tops on me. My latest purchase is the one exception and that is, actually, thanks to a detail that I normally despite: The tied waist. This is just my personal preference but I cannot stand tops on me that tie at the bottom and I didn’t realize that was the case with my blouse until I tried it on.

This problem was quickly solved by simply tucking it into my shorts and it looked so much better. Tucking the top solved the tie waist issue as well as eradicated the flowiness that, more often than not, makes me look slightly preggo! You guys probably all think I sound crazy but I think everyone has a style of clothing that they refuse to wear for a silly (And more than likely, untrue!) reason lol. 

Now, finally, let’s talk about this Luna Moon blouse in actuality because I think it is quite stunning. We all know Lil Red loves mustard yellow but what takes it over the top, if you will, is the gorgeous embroidery. The blue, red, orange, and white pop so well against the mustard yellow and it has also opened my eyes to color combinations that I have never thought of before. Who knew turquoise and mustard could look so good together? Not I. Luna Moon did, though!

While this top will work during a mild summer day, I think it will be perfect for fall. Tucking it into skirts with thick tights and high waisted jeans will definitely be the move. As well as the shorts and tights combo that I am particularly fond of.

My new peasant blouse took me out of my comfort zone but that is what was so fun about the TJs trip I had with my mom. We both tried things that we normally would shy away from and the reward from the fashion risk made it so worth it. Here’s to taking risks with fashion for all in the future because you might just find your new favorite thing!

Is there a specific shape of clothing that you refuse to wear? How do you take fashion risks? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Jul3

Rachel Zoe Tank Top Set

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Rachel Zoe Tank Top Set

Hi! Lil Red loves ultra unique statement pieces, which means that more basic items often get overlooked in my wardrobe. What is lacking in essentials is made up for with a bunch of crazy shoes, though lol! While I always mean to get closet must haves while shopping like tanks and neutral options, it never quite works out that way. Until my trip to TJMaxx with my mom, that is.

At TJs, I found the literal best tank tops I have ever worn by Rachel Zoe. My only regret? That I didn’t get a backup of the set of two that I purchased! Check it out:

When I first saw this black and white tank top set, I just had to try it on. Normally, I would acknowledge the cuteness of these tanks and move on. However, I loved the convenience of the set of two, the ribbing, and the thick straps. Peek a boo bra straps are always an issue for me and knowing that it wouldn’t be a problem with these tanks made me eager to give them a shot. Who wants to adjust themselves all summer long? Pas moi!

I wasn’t expecting to feel so good in just a tank top but I really was blown away as soon as I had it on in the fitting room. These Rachel Zoe tanks fit like a dream and are quite slimming thanks to the vertical stripes and ribbing. The tank flattered my body without feeling too tight and there were no bra straps to be seen. 😀

Rachel Zoe clearly drew inspiration from a classic wife beater but she turned it on its head and made it *fashion*. The shorter length, tighter fit, and ribbing all helped the cause. However, the best part of these tanks is the appearance of the material. In my opinion, it almost looks sweater like when it is really just rayon! My new tanks will definitely help me stay cool this summer while still making me feel chic and I never thought I would say that about a basic piece before.

It has been brutally hot in Ohio these past several days with temperatures in the nineties and I have already made great use of my purchase because of it. These essential tanks are universally flattering while still having a little something extra to them and I am so there for it. Like I said, I wish I bought two sets and I highly recommend them!

What are some essential must haves in your wardrobe? How do you add spice to basic pieces? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Jul2

Rebellion Again Mustard Yellow Kimono

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Rebellion Again Mustard Yellow Kimono

Hi! During the pandemic, I really didn’t do too much online clothing shopping. It’s not like Johnny and I were going anywhere and I didn’t want to deal with the hassle of making inevitable in store returns. While I bought a few odds and ends, I found that I played it pretty safe with my purchases so I wouldn’t have to make a separate trip for pieces in the “no” pile.

Given the circumstances, this method worked. However, we all know that the last thing Lil Red likes to do when it comes to fashion is play it safe! That is why my past few shopping outings with myself, my mom, and best gal Danielle were so much fun. It felt amazing to be able to actually try clothing on in store and experiment with shapes and colors that I normally wouldn’t pick for myself.

Thanks to my recent hauls, I would consider my wardrobe perfectly refreshed for summer. The fashion bug continues to bite, though, because all I can think about is how I’m going to style all of these cool new finds. Like this Rebellion Again kimono, for starters:

I found this kimono at TJMaxx when I went with my mom and, originally, didn’t even plan on trying it on because they only had one size – a large. I thought it was going to be way too big but JANE encouraged me to give it a shot anyways and I’m glad she did because it fit just right! I have never owned anything like this breezy little number before and I think it is so unique.

As always, when it comes to anything mustard yellow, I fall in love with it pretty quickly because it is one of my favorite colors to wear other than black. Paired with the cream stitching, this kimono screams summer and I can picture myself throwing it on to go to the pool, work, and just about anywhere! Whether paired with simple shorts and a tank top or over a maxi dress for a boho vibe, I think it will transform any outfit into a statement.

The details and colors of my new Rebellion Again kimono are gorgeous but the best part of it is, easily, the fabric. The mustard yellow part is all mesh and I have never seen anything like that before. I love the contrast between the gauzy material and thick stitching and it is a light as a feather option even on a super hot day. I cannot wait to wear it ASAP!

What are your favorite colors to wear? How do you like to make fashion statements? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul1

Moon & Madison Knit Tank

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Moon & Madison Knit Tank

Hi! Shopping at TJMaxx with my mom this past week has been one of the highlights of my year – and getting married, of course! We had not had a mother/daughter TJs outing since before the pandemic and we picked up right where we left off so long ago. Walking into TJMaxx together felt like finally coming home after a vacation and we each left with an awesome haul of clothes, skin care, and home goods. My mom also found two cute new pairs of sandals which made my inner shoe diva so proud!

We were both able to refresh our summer wardrobes and I think I am well set for the season now. I am so happy with all of my purchases and can’t wait to sport this little Moon & Madison number ASAP:

I recently bought a knit tank at Dry Goods thanks to inspiration from Facebook ads and when I saw my new Moon & Madison top at TJs, I just had to try it on. I loved that it was cropped as my Thread & Supply one is much longer and, most importantly, I loved being able to show support to my friends in the LGBTQ+ community. It also shows support to myself, as well, because I am bisexual!

lifewithlilred is a page that celebrates and embraces all of the wonderful things that make us different and I am a safe person to anyone who may need to talk. My inbox is always open and I am just an email, comment, or Facebook message away. You can find me at: Sarah Mushenheim or email me at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com . I encourage everyone to live their life in color and with a little bit of red too! ❤

Who is your shopping partner in crime? What is something about you that you are proud of? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah